History Under Siege: Trump’s War on Slavery’s Legacy

The current president of the United States is going to great lengths to sell a false narrative of historical oppression. He plans to have officials comb through museums and take out what he feels doesn’t belong, but really what displays the truth about slavery. 

In a social media post, Trump complained about what he called an excessive focus on "how bad slavery was." Earlier this year, he launched a review of some Smithsonian museums after accusing them of spreading “anti-American ideology.” 

Trump wrote: “The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been — Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future.” In an attempt to rewrite history, he has threatened to cut funding for museums. 

This effort is not just censorship; it is the erasure of critical history. By removing the realities of slavery, he is dismantling decades of American history and committing an unlawful destruction of the truth. 

The push to reshape historical education is further seen in media. A PragerU cartoon was aired with PragerU being the type of content Trump has suggested as a replacement for PBS. In one episode, Christopher Columbus downplays slavery, saying that it was “better than being killed.” 

We may not be in legal power to keep the story alive in public places, but we have a responsibility. By knowing the truth, dedicating our resources, and ensuring those after us know the truth, we are doing our part in keeping the history of our ancestors alive.